Chapter 39
Chapter Thirty-Nine
MIA
Rigel helps me to my feet, his touch gentle as we make our way out of the cramped galley. He guides me up the steep stairs and to the top deck of the trawler. Immediately, the fresh sea air hits me like a cool, invigorating wave, washing away the stale confines of the galley and the panic infusing my mind.
The salty sea breeze whips through my hair, tangling it into wild tendrils. The vast expanse of the ocean stretches out before us, endless and untamed, with no land in sight, and the horizon blurs into a delicate blend of blues where the water meets the sky in a seamless line.
Mid-morning, the sun climbs upward, casting a shimmering path across the undulating waves. The sea is calm, with only a few white caps topping gentle swells. Their frothy peaks catch the light. The sky is mostly clear. A few wispy clouds drift lazily overhead. Pure white and fluffy, they look like someone stuck cotton up in the air.
The wind carries the sharp tang of the sea, and it mingles with the industrial metal of the trawler, diesel, and steel with a hint of rust. The rhythmic creak of ropes and the occasional clatter of loose equipment create a background symphony punctuated by the soft, steady hum of the engine below deck.
I take a deep breath, filling my lungs with the fresh, salty air. It’s a stark contrast to the thick, tense atmosphere of the galley. The open space feels liberating, offering a momentary escape from the weight of the decisions and fears pressing down on me.
Rigel stands beside me, his presence a comforting anchor in this vast, shifting seascape. His gaze follows mine, taking in the endless horizon.
“It’s beautiful out here,” he murmurs, his voice blending with the whisper of the wind and the gentle lapping of the waves against the hull.
I nod, unable to find the words to express the tumult of emotions swirling inside me. Instead, I let the sensory experience wash over me, grounding me in the here and now.
The trawler rocks gently with the rhythm of the sea, a soothing, hypnotic motion that eases my fear. The deck beneath my feet is solid, a reassuring contrast to the fluid world around us.
I lean against the railing, the cool metal pressing into my palms, and close my eyes for a moment, letting the environment envelop me.
As I open my eyes, the vast, empty ocean stretches out before me, a reminder of the isolation and freedom it offers. No birds, no signs of other life—just the endless water and sky. It’s both humbling and daunting, a mirror to my uncertainty.
“Talk to me,” he says softly, his voice barely audible over the crash of the waves against the hull. “What’s going through your mind?” Rigel’s hand finds mine, his grip firm and reassuring.
The sincerity in his eyes, the unwavering support, eases some of the fear gripping my heart. I nod, taking another deep breath as the world steadies around me.
I take a shaky breath, the words tumbling out of me in a rush.
“I’m scared. Scared of leaving everything behind, of starting over with a new life and a new identity. I knew it was a possibility when I ran, but now that it’s here, now that it’s real—it’s overwhelming. ”
“It’s a lot to take in,” he murmurs, his hand still holding mine.
“That’s the understatement of a century.”
“It’s definitely a lot, but you’re not alone. You have me, and now we have an entire team on our side.”
“Thank you,” I whisper, the words barely audible over the sound of the waves. “Thank you for being here. It means more to me than you know.” I turn to him, my eyes searching his. “But what if I can’t do it? What if I can’t leave my old life behind? What if I can’t become someone new? What if I fail, and Red Phoenix finds me anyway?”
Rigel takes my face in his hands, his touch infinitely gentle, his gaze fierce with determination. “You are stronger than you know. You’ve already proven that by taking the risks you did and by fighting for the truth even when it put your life in danger. You have courage and resilience most people can only dream of.”
His words wash over me, a balm to my battered soul. I lean into his touch, my eyes fluttering closed, my heart swelling with gratitude and affection.
Rigel’s arms come around me, pulling me close, enveloping me in his warmth and strength. I bury my face in his chest, breathing in his scent—clean, with a hint of the sea, mixed with the subtle musk that is uniquely him. His steady heartbeat against my cheek is a comforting rhythm, grounding me in this moment.
We stay like that for a long moment, wrapped in each other’s arms, the rest of the world falling away until there is only the two of us, the ocean, and the limitless sky above. The gentle sway of the trawler and the soft murmur of waves against the hull create a cocoon of tranquility.
When we finally pull apart, Rigel’s hand comes up to cup my cheek, his thumb brushing over my skin with a tenderness that steals my breath. His eyes hold mine, a deep well of emotion that makes my heart ache with its intensity.
He leans in, his forehead resting against mine, his breath warm on my face.
“I believe in you,” he whispers, his lips a heartbeat away from mine. “I believe in us. ”
And then he’s kissing me, his mouth soft and sweet against mine, his hands tangling in my hair. I melt into him, into the safety and comfort of his embrace, my fears and doubts receding like the tide, replaced by a warm, glowing sense of hope and possibility.
The kiss deepens, becoming a silent promise between us. His lips are warm and insistent, drawing me closer, grounding me in the here and now. His hands travel from my hair to my back, pulling me even tighter against his chest as if he can shield me from all the dangers in the world.
I let myself get lost in him, in the feel of his body against mine, the taste of his lips, and how his breath mingles with mine. The ocean, the sky, and all the vastness around us fade into insignificance, leaving only this moment.
This connection.
This love that binds us together.
When we finally break apart, breathless and flushed, I rest my head against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heart.
“With you,” I murmur, my voice soft but sure, “I believe I can do anything.”
Rigel’s arms tighten around me, his lips pressing a tender kiss to my forehead.
And as we stand there, wrapped in each other’s embrace, the world feels a little less daunting, the future a little more hopeful. The love between us shines like a beacon in the midst of the storm.
As we stand there, wrapped in each other’s arms, the weight of everything I’ve put Rigel through crashes over me in a wave of guilt.
I pull back, my eyes searching his, my heart heavy with uncertainty.
“Rigel, I…” I begin, my voice trembling. “I’m so sorry for getting you wrapped up in all of this. It’s not fair to you to ask you to give up everything to protect me. You have a life, too, and I don’t want to interfere with that or with the choices you might have made if I hadn’t come along.”
He starts to protest, but I press on, the words tumbling out of me in a rush. “I know you’re considering joining Guardian HRS, and I don’t want you to feel pressured to do that because of me. You should be free to do your dives, to take the time you need to figure out what you want next. I don’t want to be an anchor in your life, holding you back from your dreams, from the path you were meant to take.”
Rigel’s eyes widen, a flicker of surprise flickers on his face, and something deeper, something I can’t quite name, crosses his face. He takes my hands in his, his touch gentle but firm, his gaze intense and unwavering.
“Mia, do you believe in fate?” he asks, his voice low and serious.
I blink, taken aback by the question. “I—I don’t know. Maybe?”
He nods, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “I believe that everything happens for a reason, that the paths we take, the choices we make, all lead us to where we’re meant to be.” He takes a deep breath, his eyes never leaving mine. “When I left the Navy, it was because I no longer knew what I was fighting for. The enemy was endless, the war was never over, and I felt like I was drowning in a sea of futility. But Guardian HRS—it provides a different purpose, a purpose I was born to meet.”
His words wash over me, a balm to my battered soul. I lean into his touch, my heart swelling with a deep emotion I can barely comprehend.
“How’s that?”
“Protecting those in need, rescuing those who’ve been taken. That’s the job I’m meant to have. With or without you, I would’ve found my way to Guardian HRS. It’s where I belong and where I can make a real difference in the world.”
He cups my face in his hands, his touch infinitely gentle, his eyes shining with a fierce, unwavering love. “But having you by my side, getting to protect the woman I love… That’s not a burden. It’s a gift I’ll cherish for the rest of my days.”
“Yo-you love me?” My breath catches in my throat, my heart stuttering in my chest.
“I do. I love you with every fiber of my being, with every beat of my heart.” Rigel’s soft, tender smile makes my knees go weak. “You’re not an anchor holding me back. You’re the wind in my sails, the light guiding me home. ”
Tears spill down my cheeks, hot and fast, as the weight of his words sinks in. I throw my arms around his neck, burying my face in his chest, my heart so full it feels like it might burst.
“I love you too,” I whisper, my voice muffled against his shirt. “I love you so much it scares me.”
Rigel’s arms tighten around me. “Don’t be scared, Mia. We’re in this together, now and always. Whatever the future holds, whatever storms may come, we’ll face them side by side, hand in hand.”
He pulls back just enough to look into my eyes, his gaze intense and filled with love. He leans in, capturing my lips in a kiss that is both tender and demanding.
It’s a kiss that speaks of promises kept, of a future built together. His hands move to cradle my face, his thumbs brushing away my tears.
I melt into him, the kiss deepening as I let go of my fears and doubts. The world around us fades, leaving only the two of us and the love that binds us together.
His lips are warm and insistent, drawing me closer, grounding me in the here and now. His hands travel from my face to my back, pulling me even tighter against him as if he can shield me from all the dangers in the world.
When we finally break apart, breathless and flushed, I rest my forehead against his powerful chest, our breaths mingling in the space between us.
“With you,” I murmur, my voice soft but sure, “I believe I can do anything.”
Rigel’s arms tighten around me, his lips pressing a tender kiss to my forehead.
Just then, the sound of heavy footsteps breaks the tranquility. I turn to see Forest Summers, an imposing figure with shock-white hair and ice-blue eyes, striding toward us. He’s a thunderous presence that commands attention. Beside him is Skye.
“If you two are done sucking face,” Forest calls out, his voice a booming, playful rumble, “why don’t you come back down to the galley? We’ve got plans to make and a lot to discuss about how to get Mia off this trawler. ”
“I kind of like sucking her face.” Rigel doesn’t miss a beat. He grins, his hand holding mine.
“Coming, Lover Boy?” Forest adds with a smirk, his nickname for Rigel tinged with affection and a hint of teasing. “Or do the two of you need to go below to rub one out?”
“Forest, don’t be crass.” Skye rolls her eyes. “What my brother is trying to say is we’re brainstorming ideas about getting you off the trawler, and I think you want to hear what the current front-runner might be.”
“What does that mean?” Rigel asks.
Skye smirks and heads back, below deck.
“What’s it going to be, Lover Boy?” Forest spins around and follows Skye back below deck.
Rigel chuckles, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze. “Right behind you, Forest.”
As we follow them back to the galley, the warmth of Rigel’s touch and the strength of his love bolster my spirit, but I’m a little worried about this plan they’re drumming up.